Aeolothrips clarus

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

The available specimens of this species are not in a suitable condition to prepare a detailed description. Judging from the description it is similar to the brown form of A. auricestus, and apparently differs from A. terrestris in having the forewing lobe even shorter.

Related and similar species

This is one of four species of Aeolothrips with short-winged adults that are known from California: A. albicinctus and A. auricestus are both bicolored, although the second of these is commonly brown, whereas A. clarus and A. terrestris are both uniformly brown. Just over 90 species are placed currently in the genus Aeolothrips, of which more than 50 are from the Palaearctic Region (mainly Europe), and 28 from the Nearctic (mainly western USA). Only two species are recorded from the Neotropics; the one from Chile is probably the same as A. fasciatus, and one from Panama is probably not a member of this genus (Mound & Marullo, 1996).

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Aeolothrips clarus Bailey

Original name and synonyms

• Aeolothrips clarus Bailey, 1951: 53

Family placement

Aeolothripidae

Biological data

Life history

Presumably predatory at ground level, as is A. albicinctus and its relatives all of which are known only from short-winged adults of both sexes.

Host plants

Most specimens have been taken on grasses.

Tospoviruses vectored

None

Crop damage

None

Distribution data

Area of origin

Western USA

Distribution

California